
WE COME TO M 
N QUIET HOURS 

by 
^BBA VICTORIA .KEEBS 





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Book.. 



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& 7 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 




FRANTZ ASSISI 

(Thirteenth Century) 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE 
COME TO ME IN QUIET HOURS 



BY 

EBBA VICTORIA KREBS 



FROM 
1898-1916 






COPYRIGHT, 19 16 
BY EBBA VICTORIA KREBS 



Press op 
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 

East Washington Square, 
Philadelphia 



DEC 30 !9i6 



©CI.A453389 



Most of the thoughts in this pamphlet are on 
Christian Science. Should any be amiss, the fault 
is my lack of understanding, and not an intended 
desire to interpret Christian Science my own way. 

E. V. K. 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE 
COME TO ME 

FRANTZ ASSISI 

An old peasant once came to Frantz Assisi and 
said to him; "I pray thee, dear Master, to be what we 
simple folk hereabout thinkest thou to be, for as such 
we need thee." 

These are words we, especially as Christian Scien- 
tists, can take to heart. 

Knowing our ideals are high, the world expects 
us to have already reached those ideals; but finding us 
wanting, they turn away from us with contempt, and 
confounding Christian Scientists with Christian Science 
they also feel contempt for the Science. 

We have high ideals to be sure, and nobody more 
than we ourselves can regret our inability to live up 
to them. So let us try, let us strive daily to live up 
to our ideals as nearly as possible; be as good as the 
world expects us to be, and thinks us to be, for as such 
the world needs us. 
1910 

THINKING 

If we only were as careful with our thinking, as we 
are with our outward appearance, what fine creatures 
many of us would be ! 

But who would like to be noticed too much, if our 
thoughts were visible? 

How many there are whose greatest aim is to be 

5 



6 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

noticed outwardly? They would consider it a lost day 
in which nobody had noticed their new finery, hat, 
frock, etc. 

Would they, or we, only count that day lost in 
which our thoughts have not been fit for analyzing ! 
1898 

CURIOSITY 

"What is Christian Science, I am very curious to 
know?" people have asked me. 

Curiosity to know what Christian Science is will 
never lead them to understand it. God is not mocked, 
He sees the motive in each human heart; and we do 
not receive a gift as priceless as faith as a reward for 
curiosity. 
1900 

INCONSISTENCY 

Ministers of the Gospel also pray to God for the 
recovery of the sick, but it seems with the idea that 
their prayers ought not to be heard. Because if the 
prayer of a Christian Scientist is heard, and the patient 
healed, the Ministers become infuriated and pronounce 
the healing the work of the devil. 
1901 

OLD AS ETERNITY 

"It seems strange," some will say, "that no person, 
no one of all the devout and truth seeking people in the 
world, ever happened to strike the right way of thinking 
— the way Mrs. Eddy has claimed to be the right one." 
And then those people go on and want to make Mrs. 
Eddy out as a fraud and impostor. 

I will ask those same people: How long was the 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 7 

earth round, — how long had the law of gravitation 
existed, — how long electricity, X-rays, etc., before 
anyone discovered them and made their knowledge of 
those things or powers useful? Was Columbus there- 
fore a fraud because he was the first to discover the 
earth was round, and are all scientific men frauds 
because they have discovered hitherto unknown powers? 
1901 

THE DEMAND TO PRAY UNCEASINGLY. 

Prayer is communion with God. What is God? 
He is the Principle of all good; therefore you cannot 
think a right and good thought, without being in com- 
munion with God — Principle. We can imagine a state 
where all our thoughts would be good — this would be 
ceaseless praying — and possible — whereas the old idea 
of praying with folded hands and on bended knees 
would be a demand impossible to fulfil. 

1902 

THE DIFFERENCE 

I used to say if it was so very hard to believe in 
C. S., as it really seems to be, I might by the same effort 
get myself to believe in Odin and Thor. But what if I 
could? Would I have gained anything in believing in 
Odin and Thor? — No! nothing. By believing in C. S. 
I have gained all there is to gain. 
1903 

When is it dark? When dense matter, the earth 
itself, comes between us and the sun. When are we in 
spiritual darkness? When mortal mind — materiality, 
the flesh and its desires — comes between us and the 
truths of spirit. 

1904 



8 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

It seems to me that from an orthodox standpoint 
humanity consists of three classes : The bad, the worse 
and the worst — and the highest we can expect to attain 
is to be bad — to be sure, mixed with some good. But 
is there any comfort or aspiration in such a view? No, 
the ideal can only be reached through: Good, better, 
best; by the realization that in every man is something 
good, from which the best some day will grow. 
February, 1903 

Outsiders judge Christian Scientists and Mrs. Eddy 
only from their failures. Would they think it fair if 
we judged them only from their failures? 

1904 

BRIGHT DAWN 

It was my duty a few winters ago to get up very 
early in the morning to see my son off to work. After 
he had finished breakfast and had left, it was still dark, 
and quite a time before daylight. I then loved to go up 
in an eastern room for my morning meditation and to 
have the privilege of seeing the sunrise. 

My home being situated almost at the top of a hill, 
the view from this room is beautiful ; down over the city, 
built on the sloping hills, and with its many church- 
spires pointing heavenward; over the Delaware River, 
as it broadens out toward the bay, while beyond lies 
New Jersey, with its white, sandy coast, its villages 
half hidden in groves of trees, and then a sweep of 
the horizon from northeast to south. It sometimes 
seemed that I waited long for the coming of the light, 
but by-and-by there was the faint dawning at a point 
in the horizon and I knew that there the sun would rise. 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 9 

I remember one morning especially. The city lay 
in darkness ; the sky was clear but for some heavy black 
clouds low down toward the horizon. I waited long, 
but at last there was that faint dawn, and the dark 
clouds shifted from black to brown, then to deep purple, 
to violet, and in a little while to pink, the palest pink, 
and then suddenly, they were as molten gold; and the 
sun, first like a brilliant star, shot, as it seemed out of the 
very earth. Then the whole orb moved slowly and 
majestically up the sky, and it was morning, bright 
morning. 

I likened that sunrise to my experiences in Christian 
Science. I was born in Denmark, in a Lutheran home, 
as the state church is Lutheran. I never had the slight- 
est doubt that this church alone held the truth, yet I 
dared openly and in contradiction to orthodox opinion 
believe that all humanity would at last be saved, all 
be Lutherans, for did I not read, "There shall be one 
fold, and one shepherd ?" 

In 1880 I came to America. I went first to a 
Lutheran church, but it was not like my Danish one; 
it lacked the dignity of our old established church at 
home. I never went there again; but finding good, 
dear people in all denominations, I outgrew the convic- 
tion that all must become Lutherans to be saved. The 
different churches that I visited, however, did not 
appeal to me. I then took my seat in the Unitarian church, 
which was indeed different in every respect from that 
of my youth. I found I could stay there honestly, as 
no one ever asked me what I believed or why I was 
there. 

I spent many quiet and restful hours in this church, 
although its teaching was not wholly satisfying to me. 
I was always looking toward the horizon for something 
better, for a dawn of truth, something which could not 



10 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

be mistaken for truth. At last I saw a light — it was 
the truth as represented in Christian Science — The dark 
clouds of materialism have now changed hue from 
dark to bright gold, and here at this point of dawn the 
whole truth as a sun will soon rise for all humanity. 

THE LOST 

When the orthodox speak about the lost, it is with 
that meaning, that they are lost forever. But when 
Christ says: "Seek ye the lost," it shows that they 
can be found again; or he would not ask us to look for 
the lost. 
1906 

FROM WHERE COMES EVIL 

As soon as we hear about Christian Science teach- 
ing and become interested, we at once seem to be very 
anxious to know from where evil came; and if we 
receive no satisfactory answer, we are inclined to think 
it is not worth the while to give C. S. more thought. 
It did not seem to trouble us where evil came from, as 
long as we were inside orthodox churches. We there 
believed blindly everything in its doctrine without 
"signs following' ' — in Christian Science we have the 
signs; but find it hard to believe. 
1904 

The greater the light I have beheld, the greater the 
darkness when turning away from this light. 
1904 

OUR CHOSEN KING 

We know there are waves of light, waves of cold, 
of warmth, and waves of sound. Why should there 
not then be waves of truth and love as well? And I 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 11 

think at the time Jesus was to be born into this world 
such waves of truth and love, — in ever-widening cir- 
cles, — have spread over all the world, even if the world 
knew it not. 

When such a wave reached the shore of my native 
land, the Kingdom of Denmark, it found response in 
the hearts of the honest people and gave birth to an 
historic saga, (tradition) in which I find such a deep 
meaning. 

If we bear in mind that the Danish people at that 
time still believed in gods, — Odin, Thor, Baldur, Loke, 
and others, — and you would suppose them to be mere 
barbarians, you will think the saga still more remarkable. 

The land had for sometime been without a king. 
There was strife within and without, — there was 
famine and disorder; the people did not know where 
to look for some one strong enough and good enough to 
be their king, and able to deliver them out of their 
bondage. 

But one day a little ship was sighted. It seemed to 
steer right toward the land, but no man was to be seen 
on the ship. 

So they went out to take possession of it. 

There in the stern of the ship was a beautiful infant 
boy, peacefully asleep on a sheaf of wheat. The people 
thought the child was sent from the gods, so they took 
him in, laid him on a shield, and lifting him high over 
their heads, proclaimed him their king. 

They gave him the name "Skjold," which means 
shield; and they reared him with great care and love. 

In time he became indeed a shield to the land. He 
proved the wisest king and law-giver. 

Such compassion did he have for his people that he 
paid all the debts of the poor; the sick were taken care 
of; and there was peace and prosperity in the land. 



12 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

I think this saga is symbolic of all ages and all 
peoples. 

Nations and individuals have time and again such 
ships with a cargo of great price come to their shores; 
but in many instances they, or we, let them pass by 
unheeded. 

As for Christian Scientists, many were long in the 
land of sin, sickness, and sorrow, spiritual famine and 
death, and did not know where to look for help, — for 
something or someone strong enough to deliver them 
from bondage. 

But one day — not so very long ago, — just such a 
little ship, the Christian Science ship, came to our 
shore. 

Love and healing was the breeze which filled its 
snow white sails. The Prince of Peace, the Christ 
Child, — Truth resting on a sheaf of wheat (a promise 
that our starved souls should be filled). And we 
thought the child sent us from God, and took it and 
proclaimed it our king. 

But that is not sufficient. Are we rearing this 
child with care and love, so it some day will grow strong 
enough to be our Defender and Deliverer? Are we 
as loyal to this — our chosen King of Truth — as were 
those Danish people, almost two thousand years ago 
to that infant boy they had proclaimed their king? 
Colorado Springs, 
September, 1904 

"THAT WHICH A MAN SOWETH, THAT ALSO 
SHALL HE REAP " 

I always thought I understood the meaning of 
above saying — I knew that when a man committed 
a crime he would be punished accordingly, — if found 
out. But, — he was not always found out! 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 13 

So here, as in many other cases, seemed exceptions 
to the rule. 

But now, through Christian Science, I understand 
the whole overwhelming, but at the same time re-as- 
suring, meaning in those words. We know that if we 
sow a seed of barley we will reap barley; of oats, and we 
reap oats, and so on. There is no instance where a 
seed does not bring forth its own kind. 

There is no man dull enough not to know it. And 
what would the result be if it were otherwise, if 
we never could depend upon what would come up 
after our sowing? All would be utter confusion and 
unstability. 

The same law must hold good in what we think, in 
what we say, in what we do. But did we ever realize it? 

Is it a wonder then that some lives have been 
unstable and confused? 

While we were sowing unkindness, envy, hatred, 
conceit, selfishness — we were all the same looking for 
health, happiness, and prosperity. 

When we want a beautiful and peaceful home (and 
who does not?) we must sow love, unselfishness and 
forbearance: from nothing else will or can we reap 
harmony. 

In our old way of thinking, everything, pertaining 
to health and happiness, came in a quite hap-hazard 
way. We did not think that God's laws held good, 
but for the crop we gathered and put into our barns. 

Now, if we do not exactly reap to-morrow or even 
next year what we sow to-day that does not mean that 
that particular seed will not give us back of its own 
kind. 

Wait! the harvest will come sooner or later, — for 
good or for evil. 

I have in my possession an ear, or rather three ears 



14 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

on one stalk, of wheat, grown from a grain of wheat 
taken from the hand of an Egyptian mummy. It 
took time for that grain to sprout. It took thousands 
of years — but it sprouted in due time. It gave forth 
of its own kind, this special grain, not one ear to the 
stalk, but three. It gave forth an hundred fold. 
February 8, 1904 

(You, Sonnin or Tulla, will find this grain of 
wheat in my tortoise-shell lined snuff box, — not that 
I, your Mother "snuffed" — the box has belonged to 
your great-grandfather Hans Christopher Sonnin.) 

A LEGEND FROM NORWAY 
(translation, fragmentary, from memory) 

"The Christmas Rose" 

It is the superstition in Norway that every Christ- 
mas night at twelve o'clock, high up in the Fjelde (moun- 
tains) the wonder of summer will break forth, and 
for one brief hour everything up there will be as beau- 
tiful as a Garden of Eden. 

Long, long ago, there lived an old pious prior in a 
monastery down in the southern part of Norway. 
This good old prior believed the legend, and had long 
wished to see this wonder of summer at Christmas 
time. 

So one Christmas, he decided to go up in the moun- 
tain, led by an old peasant woman who said she had 
seen the wonder, and she could take him to the very 
place. 

As the prior was very old, one of the younger 
brother-monks went with them, although he thought the 
whole thing extremely foolish, if indeed not wicked, 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 15 

and contrary to all things he had ever been taught 
in the Christian faith. But he loved the old prior 
and went with him. 

With great difficulty they worked their way up 
and up the mountain. The wind was blowing bitter 
cold, and colder and colder it became as darkness fell 
over them. 

It seemed as though they must lose their way and be 
in peril of falling down a steep and fearful ravine where 
the water was heard rushing wildly below. The old 
prior followed closely the peasant woman — she was 
certain, — she knew where she should go, — but the 
younger monk began to grumble, and regretted his 
own folly in not having tried to keep the old prior at 
home. 

At last they reached the mountain top, but nothing 
was there but ice and snow, — and bitter cold and 
darkness, and it must be near mid-night. * * * 

But suddenly there shot, like a faint dawn, through 
the forest, only to disappear again, * * * Again in a 
little while, there was a stronger light, — and stronger, 
— and yet stronger, * * * and it was followed by a rust- 
ling in the trees, and warmth, and balmy air. * * * 

Now it was as bright as day! The snow and ice 
melted. The frozen water commenced to wind its 
way through green grass and bushes. The flowers 
and fruits came out in quick succession. The birds 
were singing, and feeding the young ones in the nests; 
the animals came near to them, — tame and gentle. 
Roses and myriads of other flowers seemed larger and 
more fragrant than ever seen before. 

The old prior was mute in adoration and ecstasy. 
And now — suddenly, was an host of angels singing; 
and the prior stretched out his arms in joy and wonder. 

The peasant woman was also lost in reverence. 



16 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

But beside them stood the young monk; and he 
thought to himself: "All this is only the work of the 
devil; it can not be from God." And as a little white 
dove lighted on his shoulder, and bent near his ear, 
as it would whisper to him, he struck it, and cried 
aloud "Fly back to the wicked place from whence 
you came, and to the wicked one who sent you." 

No sooner was it said, than the light began to 
fade; — the birds stopped singing; — the flowers wilted; 
the snow commenced to fall thickly; — the icy cold 
settled down about them; and soon everything was 
again covered up in darkness and snow. 

But the old prior burst out in agony and said — 
"By your evil words, O Brother, have all these glories 
faded away!" And he fell down on his knees and dug 
into the snow with his hands, to find if possible, yet 
a flower under the snow. 

He did not rise again. When the monk and the 
woman tried to raise him to his feet, he was dead! 
But tightly in his hand he held a black bulb. 

His body was brought back to the monastery to be 
buried in sacred ground. 

The young monk sorrowed deeply over the death 
of the old prior, knowing that he had caused the old 
prior's death by his own doubt and evil speaking. 

So he took the root which the old prior had torn 
from the ground, and planted it in the garden to see 
if it would grow. For if it should grow he would then 
believe that the wonder in the mountain came really 
from God and was not an evil illusion. 

Spring came, and summer, — and fall, — but there 
was no sign of life to be seen where he had put the 
root — So he had his own thoughts concerning it, and 
gave up looking. 

As Christmas came, the monk recalled his walk 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 17 

in the mountain with the old prior, and went out in 
the garden, and to the place where he had planted 
the root. He dug away the snow with his hands and 
what should his doubting eyes behold! A wonderful 
white flower, rising in the midst of dark glossy leaves. 

This was indeed proof, and all his doubts vanished 
at that moment, and he named the flower "The Christ- 
mas Rose." 

So runs the legend. This is only the frame-work 
of the legend. But the point is there, and I draw a 
lesson from it — it is this: 

How often a cold word or profane, or a word of 
ridicule about anything (and about Christian Science 
especially), can make our visions of the truth, and the 
wonders wrought by its teaching, fade away — a blight 
seems to fall over our faith, and we become chilled — if 
not indeed dead — in our hearts. 

Fortunate, if we, or those we perchance have 
offended, out of the cold and snow, darkness, doubt, 
and death, can yet grasp and hold on to the root (to 
the fundamentals of our Leader's and Christ's teach- 
ings) from which some day perhaps after many, many 
days, the Christmas Rose, the emblem here of Truth, 
Love, and Faith, will burst forth to life with its leaves 
of Hope and Blossoms of Fulfilment. 

Christmas Day, 1905 

PRAYER 

It is often said that Christian Scientists do not 
pray — we do — but not altogether in the same way we 
used to. I did, and I do offer many a prayer of thanks, 
for I have always had thousands of things to be thank- 
ful for. But I also used to send up prayers of petition, 
prayers for material things, thinking God was so man- 



18 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

like that his heart might be softened through my 
prayer; thinking he could, if he would, alter the order 
of things for my special benefit. 

Now I never send up a prayer of petition, except 
for more love, more understanding. When I pray I 
liken myself to a farmer — when he tills his acres, by 
digging, ploughing, harrowing, and at last throwing the 
seed in the ground, he does not by so doing call down 
God's rain, sunshine, wind and dew; for all those 
blessings fall alike on the rocky as on the cultivated 
ground. But he prepares his field so as to make it fit 
to profit by those blessings; making it capable to 
bring forth a hundred fold. 

So when I pray to God, I do not thereby call down 
God's love and care; for his love and care are forever 
here — emit from God, as light emits from the sun; 
all live and breathe in the sunshine and dew of God's 
eternal love. But when I pray, I am thereby prepar- 
ing my own heart — am making it receptive to all God's 
good gifts, so they shall not fall in vain on an unpre- 
pared heart, as the rain and sunshine fall in vain on 
stony and barren ground. 

May 9th. 1906 



JOAN OF ARC 

There appeared in this morning's Public Ledger — 
31st of Oct. 1906 — two articles on the front page: one 
on Mrs. Eddy, the Christian Scientist leader, and one 
on Joan of Arc. Those articles led me to give the 
following testimony in our church the same evening. 
I write it down so my children in after years may 
know what stand I took at that given time; where 
our opponents were inclined to think that Christian 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 19 

Science had received its death blow by the scathing 
newspaper articles at that time rampant against Mrs. 
Eddy. 

TESTIMONY 

There appeared two articles in this morning's 
Public Ledger — the one as you all know was a slandering 
and false account of Mrs. Eddy and her work. The 
other was a little article about Joan of Arc. 

This last article ends this way: "And so this peer- 
less maiden was put to death by a ghastly error by an 
age darkened, and believing in witch-craft/' 

By reading the article about Mrs. Eddy, we may 
well ask if this age has much in advance of the age 
of Joan of Arc five hundred years past? 

Is this peerless woman, our leader, whose life-work 
has been to let the world know and understand that 
in love and truth and trust in God there is healing 
for the sick and sinful generation, is she faring better 
from this age, where falsehood and malice gladly 
would kill her if they could? 

Well, we have all felt alike, I believe, by reading 
this article, and many others of the same nature which 
have appeared lately; but then I thought: It is just 
in this case as in Joseph's, when he said to his cruel 
brothers, "You thought evil against me but God has 
turned it all to good." 

The Ledger by putting this article on the very 
front page in the first column has unwittingly done 
more good than harm. It was in this way brought 
before the eyes of all its readers. The nature of the 
article has its due impression on the different readers. 
"The unrighteous may be unrighteous still," but the 
righteous will marvel over the unmanliness of the 
reports. The indifferent may be aroused to thinking 



20 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

a little for themselves. And the followers of Mrs. 
Eddy will love her more than ever. For how could 
man or woman have a friend, and not love him more 
deeply when seeing him unjustly abused? 

I, for one, have never felt such love for our leader 
as I felt this morning after reading this article, with 
its cruel and false statement. 

Oct. 31, 1906 

One difference between Orthodoxy and Christian 
Science is this: that Christian Scientists think there 
is an end to Evil — to the devil and his lies. The Ortho- 
dox preach an everlasting devil, and everlasting pun- 
ishment; but this is not possible, for a lie — of which 
the devil is the father — can not last longer than till 
it is found out and the devil not longer than he is 
believed in and feared. 

1906 



GOOD THOUGHTS 

When God has sent us good thoughts — we should 
express them — have the thoughts done ourselves good, 
they can also benefit someone else. — We should be as 
anxious to express good, as we should be anxious to 
guard our lips from speaking iniquity. 

1904 

GIVING THANKS RELUCTANTLY 

It is strange how reluctantly many give thanks 
where thanks is due, and when we as Christian Sci- 
entists give thanks to our Leader, and do love her it 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 21 

seems to provoke great displeasure among people out- 
side the church. While those same people give a most 
willing ear when ill is spoken of Mrs. Eddy, they seem 
to work themselves into a strangely disturbed state 
of mind when good is spoken of her. But I have also 
heard little dogs bark at the moon. I believe the 
little dog does not know himself what infuriates him, 
so, neither can we possibly understand why. But 
the moon floats on in its quiet unfailing course. So is 
our Leader also untouched by criticism. 

What is it we as Christian Scientists give thanks 
for? Suppose somebody had a message of great im- 
portance to send you from afar. Let us say thousands 
of millions involved. Suppose the person entrusted 
with this message found the way too long, too danger- 
ous, too wearisome and too lonely, and thought: 
"What do I gain by delivering this message? I would 
have many unpleasant roads to walk and perhaps 
even dangerous. I will just stop here and turn back." 
Would you thank or blame such a messenger? 

But suppose she did deliver the message even at 
the peril of her life, would it be worth while to give 
thanks or not? 

Christian Scientists think it is worth while to give 
thanks to Mrs. Eddy, who all alone carried her 
entrusted message through years and years, through 
the wilderness of human misconception, hatred and 
abuse, to bring it safely to the few who were found 
ready to understand the magnitude of this message 
on Christian healing of Soul and Body. She did not 
shrink from her task; it would have been thousands 
of times easier to leave the whole thing alone and let 
the world go its own way. 

November, 1906 



22 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

COLUMBUS 

THOUGHT SUGGESTED BY AN ARTICLE FROM A 
DANISH PAPER 

"Our life is as a voyage towards an unknown land; 
we have not reached it yet; many think there is no 
land ahead, but as Columbus on his ship Santa Marie 
knew there must be a new land not far off; when he 
saw birds come flying from the west and strange flowers 
carried to sea by the wind"; so we know, as Christian 
Scientists there is a new land ahead by the signs of 
the time; by strange birds and flowers; the sinful 
made pure, the poor made confortable, the sick healed, 
the sorrowing made joyful; then we know there must 
be life, and not death ahead; that there is land and 
not chaos ahead of us in the teaching of our Leader. 

1906 

TRUE SUCCESS 

Who is best off, the one who accidentally gets the 
right answer in a problem of mathematics, chemistry 
or anything else, or the one who knows why he gets 
the right answer in the different problems? In this 
life we very often happen to get what we want 
in business, in health, in wealth; and we happen 
to escape this and that, as sickness, accidents, etc. 
That is why people call this life a hap-hazard thing; 
because they really don't know why they meet with 
failure or why with success. Why they are sick or 
why they are well. But we must know the "Why's" 
of all before we at all times can be sure of success. 

1906 E. V. K. 

HIDDEN TRUTHS 

I see so much hidden truth in the old myths and 
fairy tales. They have come into existence from some 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 23 

dim truths lingering in the minds of man from begin- 
ning of time, and then have been formed into stories — 
into what people, some people at least, look upon as 
only wild imaginations of the human brain. 

Take for instance the myth about Lethe, the river 
which waters, if you drank from them would make 
you forget the past. 

Is this myth not really in accordance with those 
words from Isaiah LXV, 17. "For behold I create new 
Heavens and a new earth : and the former shall not be 
remembered, nor come into mind." 

And is it not so that it would be impossible to be 
in a place or in a state called Heaven, Paradise, a place 
of perfect bliss, if we could remember our earthly exist- 
ence with all its dark features? 

1906 

TARES AND WHEAT 

I was reading in the 13th chapter of Matthew, the 
parable about the tares and the wheat; the good, and 
the evil — how it shall grow together unto harvest — 
then how the tares will be put into the fire to be burned ; 
but the wheat to be gathered and put into the store- 
house — I was from childhood taught in one of the 
Orthodox Churches that by the tares and the wheat 
were meant two different kinds of men: the good, to 
inherit heaven — the wicked to go to everlasting 
punishment. 

But now this thought comes to me: no one man 
can be altogether good; — nor can any one man be 
altogether wicked. In each and every individual heart 
the tares and the wheat are growing alongside one 
another. What then is to be burned? — We are taught 
in Christian Science that no one can enter heaven, as 
long as a single quality unlike God remains in our 



U THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

heart, for heaven is a place, or more correctly, a state 
of perfection; and we are also taught, all that is good 
is imperishable — then knowing, that all of us have 
that in us which can not perish; and also that in us 
which must perish — I think it is reasonable to believe 
that it is the tare in every single heart (be the crop 
small or great) that must be cast in the fire to be 
destroyed— and the wheat in every single heart which 
will be gathered into the storehouse. 

I think this thought is a great deal more comfort- 
ing than to think my neighbor should burn forever 
in a place of punishment, while I was enjoying heaven — 
or vice versa. 

And with this thought we need not want to warn 
of the day of judgment; but can rather rejoice in its 
coming, for who would not welcome the destruction 
of all our iniquities, and at last stand free and 
unfettered? 

If anybody thinks I am wrong, as Orthodox people 
surely will, I can only answer that one more passage 
of comfort from the Bible comes to my mind — it is 
this: "So far as the east is from the west, so far will 
I remove your iniquities from you " 

It does not say, we shall perish with our iniquities, 
but they shall be removed from us. 

Feb. 28, 1906 

OUR REAL VALUE 

Every person has a certain value; but what this 
value is, who knows but God? The person supposes 
he knows himself, and esteems himself accordingly. 
Other people look upon him; each with a different 
recognition of his worth — and esteem him accordingly. 
But the man as he sees himself, and the man as other 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 25 

people see him and esteem him, may be a very different 
person from what he really is. — It seems impossible to 
know ourselves — we have high ideals, and are blind 
enough sometimes to believe we are living in accord- 
ance with those ideals — till we some day are aroused 
by finding ourselves far from the mark. Other people 
can not know us; because they can only judge us from 
words and acts — but those do not always reveal our 
motives; and from motives only should we be judged, 
and our real value be fixed. 

1907 

DO NOT JUDGE 

Do not judge people so much by what they say 
about one another, even if it should not be very chari- 
table; but judge them by what they really would do for 
one another, if their assistance was needed. 

People talk foolishly and unthinkingly, often say- 
ing things they do not mean ; but when it comes to the 
test there is more kindness in their hearts than even 
they themselves know. 

1907 

GOD'S VOICE 

I have heard people say "God never spoke to man 
in a human voice. It is foolish to call the Bible inspired, 
and really that book doesn't mean anything to me." 

It should! Every man, when he thinks or talks, 
gives expression to either good or evil, to truth or un- 
truth. He is either a mouth-piece of God, (Good,) or 
of the devil, (evil.) When he therefore speaks good, it 
can be said he voices God, and therefore, every good 
word in the Bible or out of the Bible can be said to be 
from God, and therefore good to listen to and abide in. 

God, or Good, — expresses himself, or its self, — 



26 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

through man — and every man or woman to-day, as 
well as the prophets, the psalmists, Solomon, the philos- 
ophers of old, the poets, Mrs. Eddy, or anybody else 
who is good voices God. 

Where would we have been to-day if all those good 
men and women had not talked, but kept their thoughts 
to themselves? Are we not all better off by all the good 
said by men and women? Are we not better off by 
having the wonderful words of the Bible, no matter 
whether you call them inspired or not inspired? 

1907 

Looking constantly on the shortcomings of our 
fellow man we will at last be unable to see his good 
points. This attitude not alone hurts him but our- 
selves as well. 

July 7th, 1907 

Small wonder that we, at least some of us, reflect 
God so poorly. How could we reflect God as long as 
our spirits are thrust hither and thither by all sorts of 
disturbing and conflicting thoughts. We are disturbed 
by fears of all kinds: fear of sickness and death, fear 
of lack of supply — disturbed by all kinds of worldliness : 
vanity, jealousy and selfishness and a host of other 
thoughts. Have we not even in our material experiences 
ample proofs of the necessity of being still, if we want 
a perfect reflection of something, be it through ear, 
eye or speech. 

Only the still waters give the true reflection of the 
surrounding scenery. 

We only get a true negative on the smooth surface 
of the sensitive plate held motionless in the camera. 

We only get sounds perfectly imprinted on the 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 27 

smooth surface of the wax cylinder used for the 
phonograph. 

Echo only answers true and clear on perfectly calm 
days. 

And so our souls only reflect God, (Good,) truly when 
quiet. 

1907 

GOLIATH 

I love the story about Goliath and David. How 
the seeming weak conquered the seeming powerful. 

We have all one time or another, or perhaps at all 
times, a Goliath who challenges us to fight him. 

I suppose there is no man or woman who does not 
look upon their different shortcomings or sins as powers 
they would like to conquer. But some think it is hope- 
less to take up the fight; others take it up but are not 
victorious. Why? Because they fail to meet the 
Goliath as David met him. David said: "You have 
come to me with spear and arrow; but I come to you 
in the name of the Lord." 

In other words he came trusting in the power of 
God. He did not depend on his own will or strength. 
And that is often the only weapon man uses in fighting 
against sin of all kinds. 
August 23rd, 1907 

TRUTH 

Truth which is at all times absolute, can be likened 
to a straight line. The least curve in the line, and it is 
not absolutely straight. The least departure from 
Truth and it is not absolute Truth. 

Falsehood is crooked at all times, and there is no 
standard for it. 
1907 



28 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

Some people think Christian Science will come to 
naught because once in a while some person or persons 
turn away from it, after having adhered to it for a 
time. 

Did Christianity come to naught because of Juda 
or the doubting Thomas, Christ's very disciples? 

And some people think Mrs. Eddy uses a medical 
Doctor, because there was such a person on the train 
on which she went from Concord to Boston, September, 
1907. Did Christ use a Doctor because one of his 
disciples, Luke, was a doctor? 

The same people think Mrs. Eddy must be a fraud, 
because some people even in Boston, so near Concord, 
think she is a fraud. 

Was Christ a fraud because some people even in 
Jerusalem thought him so? 
Sept. 1907 

SIN 

Sin plays the same havoc in our lives as a wrong 
figure plays in a problem of mathematics, and it is as 
important to have sin corrected before we can hope 
for harmonious life, as a wrong figure must necessarily 
be corrected in the problem of mathematics before it 
can be solved. 

1906 

"FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED " 

"Freely ye have received — freely give." This line 
from the Scriptures is constantly held by non-Chris- 
tian Scientists against Christian Science on account 
of taking money in return for help and healing. 

I will say this: Christian Scientists have received 
freely but they are also giving freely. Are not our 
churches open to every one who wishes to enter — and 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 29 

receive? Are not our Wednesday evening meetings 
open to all — to come and hear and take? Are not our 
reading-rooms open six days in a week and six hours a 
day and with the Christian Scientist in attendance glad 
to give of what is asked for? And here is free literature. 
Is it our fault if you do not come — or come and do not 
take of what is offered? We give a lecture or two every 
year; it is free to you — is it our fault if you do not 
come? 

Many of us here are Christian Scientists just 
because we came to church, to meeting, to reading 
room, to lectures; because we took freely of what was 
freely given. 

And about the money question? "The harvest 
is great but the laborers are few," that is why those 
few laborers have to work all day in the fields. Can 
those laborers do without housing, clothing, food, 
better than you? If we ask them to work for us, is 
it right to give them something in return or is it 
not? And when we do pay them, what do we pay 
for? For the time only; and for that they are paid 
scantily. 

For the healing of our diseases, from our sorrows, from 
our wants of soul and body, whatever they may be, — 
from being brought out from doubt to faith, from 
gloom to light, from lack to plenty, from sorrow to 
peace of mind, — for all this not all the gold in the world 
could pay; for that work we must forever remain 
indebted. 



March 20, 1907 



MRS. EDDY 



How is it that people who profess not to care for 
Mrs. Eddy or her teachings in the least, are the very 



30 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

ones who want to know all about her from the time 
she was born up till to-day. Especially do they want 
to know all about her shortcomings, because they want 
"to get at the truth." 

We, as her followers, would be more justified in 
wanting to know all about her, but we don't look for 
the truth in Mrs. Eddy's black hair as it used to be or 
in her white hair as it is; nor in her "gold plumbing," 
nor in her bric-a-brac, all of which has been cause for 
criticism, nor in the mistakes of her life; but we look 
at her work, at her teaching, and here we find ample 
proofs of her honesty and sincerity. 



1907 



ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN ONE DAY 



Thousands upon thousands of those, under other 
circumstances most fair-minded people, say that 
Christian Science is a failure, because we to-day can- 
not walk on the sea or raise the dead, or cure every 
case coming to us. 

Well, was Rome built in one day? 

If material structures consume years and years 
before finished, can we expect the city of all harmony 
to be finished in one day? 

Could there be much to a thing if we could under- 
stand it, live it and act it at once? 

Everything must wait development: the seed in 
the ground, the bud on the tree, even the bread you 
eat every day of your life, has quite a process to go 
through from the day you put the seed in the ground 
till the day it is transformed into a loaf of bread for 
you to eat and be nourished by. 

September8, 1907 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 31 

STATISTICS 

Both medical doctors and Christian Scientists have 
their problems to solve. — The doctors have been about 
it for thousands of years and have not solved them yet. 

Christian Scientists have been about it thirty years 
and have not solved their problem yet. 

Is it so strange? Is there any reasonableness in 
accusing them of being frauds when deaths occur once 
in a while under their practice? And still less when 
statistics show: for instance in New York state alone 
(statistics taken from an insurance man's papers) that 
they among every thousand not Christian Scientists 
lose 10 per cent., whereas among Christian Scientists 
they only lose one per cent. 

And that the non-Christian Scientists have been 
called good risks, having passed an examination of 
competent medical doctors selected for that purpose 
before they could get their insurance. 

Whereas the Christian Scientists before taking up 
Christian Science — at least a great majority of them, — 
have been condemned and given up by medical doctors, 
but have gotten health afterwards through Christian 
Science. 

September, 1907 

"THE RATIONAL CHRISTIAN" 

In the crossing of words between truth and its 
opposite, as it took place some time ago in one of our 
newspapers, of course Truth came out victorious. 

As I read the "Rational Christian's'* articles there 
were a few things I should like to comment upon. 

1. If clay and spittle, as "the Rational Christian" 
says, really was Christ's remedy for blindness, why does 
the "Rational Christian" not use it himself to-day? 



32 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

2. "Why do Christian Scientists eat and drink, 
but do not take medicine, which is only a form of food?" 
says Rational Christian. 

Well, Christ ate and drank, altho he did not give 
medicine — He even ate and drank after His resurrection. 
As I see it, Christ came not into this world to change 
what we as human beings call normal conditions— He 
left them alone. But He came to save the world from 
its abnormal conditions, its sickness and its sin. 

"If Christian Science heals cancer, the disease must 
be imaginary," says Rational Christian. Well— sup- 
posing it even is so, I should think it cause for thanks 
— that the patient was freed from this imaginary 
cancer. And why had not the Doctors told the patient 
that his suffering was only imaginary? It seems to 
me he must have been a very inferior Doctor, to give 
a wrong diagnosis in such a case. And where does the 
R. C's. logic come in — for if it is possible to imagine 
yourself being eaten up with cancer and other imagi- 
nary sicknesses, humanity must have a very strong 
imagination. Why not as well imagine ourselves well? 

Our whole existence must be an illusion from the 
R. C. standpoint — if so I should think that even he 
would prefer the illusion of health, to one of disease. 
And why stone the Christian Scientists if they are able 
to lift humanity from a delusion of grief and pain to an 
illusion of health and happiness, and end his article 
with the remark "That Satan still finds something 
for idle hands to do! " 



RIDICULED 

Among the hundreds of things Mrs. Eddy is ridi- 
culed for is this : That she puts her signature to every- 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 33 

thing, she has written, and has it read every time Science 
and Health is used in Church or Meeting. 

Well — the world is comical ! 

In the first place, why do all authors, artists, and 
others put their names under their work? I guess 
Mrs. Eddy's reason is just the same. And besides 
her work is of such vast responsibility that she must 
stand by her own sayings at all times. Another rea- 
son is — that there has already been another Mrs. Eddy 
who posed in her name — therefore, she uses not alone 
"Mrs. Eddy," but "Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy." 

Judging from myself, if I do not put my name 
under my written thoughts I might in a year or two 
not remember if the thoughts were my own or 
another's. 

And about Mark Twain's unmanly attack uponMrs. 
Eddy, her manuscripts and her spelling. I would 
like to see Mark Twain's jotted down thoughts, — and 
have them criticised. That writer must be of slow 
thought whose thinking not by far exceeds in speed his 
writing. A thinker who has his thoughts coming fast, 
and wants to write them down as they come, must 
indeed be quick— if able to put those thoughts all cor- 
rect and in school hand at the first writing. 

1907 

ROBERT FULTON 

It was a hundred years ago last Sunday, (the 11th 
of August, 1907,) that the first steam-boat lay in Hud- 
son River ready to make its first attempt in moving, 
while multitudes on the shore shouted themselves 
hoarse in ridiculing the inventor, Robert Fulton, — 
among those same mockers was even Fulton's own 
Father! 

And see to-day the steam-boat and its wonderful 
importance. 



34 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

From Fulton my thoughts turned towards the Chris- 
tian Science Church, — especially the Mother Church in 
Boston as it towered up before my eye from my win- 
dow in the Somerset, where I happened to be at that 
moment. That church, which was the first C. S. 
Church ever built — not two decades ago, — and see 
now the churches all over the United States. And 
I thought: While the steam-boat has developed so 
wonderfully, and carries millions upon millions, hither 
and thither — from shore to shore, in pursuit of mate- 
rial things, seeking wealth and happiness; the Chris- 
tian Science Church, or "ship" has already carried 
more than a million souls from the shores of mate- 
riality, sin, sickness, and sorrow, and poverty, to the 
shore of health and happiness. If such things have 
come to pass in less than two decades, what will we 
witness when it holds its hundredth anniversary? 

Boston, August 14, 1907 

DEVELOPMENT 

Some people, when they first get a glimpse of 
Christian Science through hearing or healing, — it 
seems so clear to them: they have received such a 
vivid picture of truth that they are apt to think they 
know it all, and settle down comfortably, thinking 
henceforth they are above trials, tests, or 
sufferings. 

They don't think it necessary to read much — (in 
fact in some points they think they have a better and 
more sensible view of Christian Science than Mrs. 
Eddy herself). They do not go to church or meeting, 
or associate with any other Christian Scientists. In 
fact they do not think it necessary to breathe the 
atmosphere of Christian Science. 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 35 

Then, when trials come, (as surely they will and 
must,) they think themselves unfairly tried; and when 
the healing seems slow, they say: "We have given 
Christian Science a fair trial; but we have been dis- 
appointed. It is not what we believed it to be." And 
they turn away from it — at least for a time. 

While thoughts in this line occupied my mind I 
was busy clearing out a closet filled with an amount 
of chemicals, such as those used in photography. 

I almost grew impatient, — handling all those bot- 
tles, bags, and boxes — and thought — "Is it possible 
that all those articles are necessary to bring out a 
good picture?" 

Yes, every single chemical has its own value in 
bringing out a perfect picture. And I thought of the 
first photographs my son took as a young boy, how 
quickly and easily the pictures were there: how each 
process followed in quick succession, and then when 
finished how admired and enjoyed. 

But those same pictures within a year or less 
commenced to fade away, until they at last became 
worthless. 

Had the boy at this point said: "I will take no 
more photographs. I have given photography a fair 
trial and it is not what I thought it to be"— everyone 
would have called him more than foolish, for other 
people have succeeded in photography. —(And so other 
people have been healed, helped, and transformed 
in Christian Science, even if you have not.) 

But the boy did not say so. He kept on, tried and 
tried again, took more pains, used more and different 
chemicals, —his exposures became more exact,— his 
developments more careful, — his work in the dark 
room as well as his work in the light, — his printing, — 



36 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

in fact every single process, was improved, till at last 
he had a perfect, clear, and unfading picture. 

So with us in Christian Science it is not enough to 
have gotten the picture of Truth flashed on the sensi- 
tive plate of our mind — it must be brought out, de- 
veloped, —go through numerous processes, —dark hours 
along with tHe bright; — and cold chilling baths of 
doubt and fear, before the picture of Truth as pre- 
sented in Christian Science is fastened in our con- 
sciousness, —clear and unfading. 

July 10, 1907 

EASTWARD 

The old custom to bury the dead with face turned 
eastward, I suppose originated with the Sun worshippers. 
Christians also bury their dead with face eastward — 
towards the land where the "light of our soul/' Christ, 
was born. — Would we only realize how much more 
to the point it would be, taken figuratively, to keep 
our faces always eastward while alive — keep face and 
heart always towards the rising sun — towards light 
and truth; rather than place our soulless bodies in 
that position. 



1907 



GOING TOO FAR 



We often hear it said: "Mrs. Eddy is right in 
many things, but she goes too far." 

Does she? 

Should any work on Science, Music, or Mathe- 
matics be cut short, and not be explained at all because 
there are some people not yet out of their small tables? 

Because you or I only can see so much and no more 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 37 

of Christian Science, should we therefore deny that 
which others have grasped and demonstrated? 

September 24, 1907 

Mrs. Eddy's opponents have no charity for her; 
because she at some time has been looking into spirit- 
ualism, hypnotism, etc. But what does that matter 
and prove? In the first place, if those opponents were 
half as good as the best spiritualist, or hypnotist, they 
would be very good people indeed. And in the second 
place, Mrs. Eddy is now to-day neither a spiritualist 
nor a hypnotist, but the one who through seeking has 
found the demonstrable truth; has, by her untiring 
seeking and faithfulness to her ideas, enabled thou- 
sands upon thousands to take part in the blessings 
which follow her teaching. 

She has been seeking. Is it a crime to seek after 
the good? We often have to seek high and low for a 
costly mislaid thing. When found is it therefore 
worthless, or the finder less to be praised? 



1907 



SUMMER PREPARATIONS 



Some days ago I came across this in the newspaper. 

"The girl who is going away on her vacation should 
not fail to take these few articles along in her hand- 
bag: antiseptic plaster, ready-made mustard plasters, 
a folding alcohol lamp, alcohol, small jar of boracic 
acid, aromatic spirits ammonia, bicarbonate of soda, 
warm set of underwear." 

The writer seems for a wonder to have forgotten 
the ice-cap and hot-water bag. 

I had to laugh, — it seemed so ridiculous; but think- 



38 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

ing it over I was obliged to admit that this advice some 
years ago would have appealed to me as very a propos. 
"Well," thought I, "what would we as Christian 
Scientists take along?" We would take with us : The 
consciousness of God's all-presence, all-knowing, all- 
power, all-love, and that would all combined make 
our baggage lighter, and more effective than all the 
material remedies in our already over-filled hand-bags. 



1908 



GOD 



"I am done with the Bible and God," I heard one 
person exclaim ; and if we talk about a God many be- 
come very impatient; and even people with a faith in 
God still lingering in their consciousness do not like 
us to mention God. 

These people say: "You cannot talk about or 
understand God, for He is infinite, and we human 
beings are finite. To think and to explain is to limit, 
and we cannot possibly talk about the limitless with 
any shadow of understanding. Therefore leave all 
talk about a God alone!" 

Well, then there will be very few things we can 
talk about; we could really talk about nothing at all; 
for what do we understand? And what is not limitless? 

What do we know about the food we eat, and its 
source; about the water we drink, and the air we 
breathe; electricity, which lights our houses, and heats 
them; which pulls us through space, and does hun- 
dreds of wonderful things for us? Do we know what 
it is, or from where it comes? Can we explain the 
smallest of electric sparks better than the greatest? 
But does that stop us from talking about them, or 
using them freely? 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 39 

We use them as far as we understand them, and 
as far as we find them good in spite of their limitlessness. 

Now the source of all those things, the source of 
light, life, air, food; the source of intelligence, love, etc., 
we have given the short name, "God." Is it so foolish 
to talk about Him? Is it foolish to trust and depend 
upon and love that source which supplies us daily, 
hourly, every minute, with life and breath and all good, 
even if we can not know or explain what He really is? 

1908 

SERVICE 

I have been thinking of that word "service." We 
all know what it means. We call both our Wednes- 
day and Sunday meetings "service." We go to church 
Sunday, and are served by two persons, — the Readers, 
— the rest of us are being served. 

But Christ says: "It is more blessed to give than 
to receive." 

Why then do we not give as we have an oppor- 
tunity to do at our Wednesday evening meetings? 
Here we too have the privilege to serve — to give of 
our experiences. Let us do it. 

August 12, 1908 

REVERSING OUR VIEWS 

Christian Science has indeed taught us to reverse 
our views on many points. We used to say: "May 
God be with us," and we really believed that such a 
prayer might reach the ear of God. 

But I see now how vain such a prayer was, for can 
God be anywhere but with us? He cannot any more 
withhold his Love, his Power, and His Care than can 
the sun withhold its light. We live and move and 



40 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

have our being in God's eternal, unchangeable Life 
and Love; what use then to pray him to be with us? 
No: now I pray: "May we be with God." 
And what does it mean to be with God? It means 
always to listen to what God, through our conscious- 
ness, tells us, and to follow only that. 

1908 

CRITICISM 

When I, in my mind, am censuring people for not 
being as good Christian Scientists as I thought them 
to be, and think they ought to have outgrown this 
and that; then I stop short and ask myself: "Have 
I outgrown all my faults yet?" 

My friends may have outgrown faults I am my- 
self yet suffering from; and the faults they have not 
outgrown perhaps I have never known, consequently 
not had to battle with. 

My friends' temptation might be greater than mine; 
things might tempt them, which would not hold the 
slightest temptation for me. 

Their temperament may be as a tempestuous sea 
compared to my own calm undisturbed one. 

We can not and must not make comparison or judge. 

December 22, 1908 

GOD-TRUTH 

God means most to me when I, instead of using 
the three letters GOD, use Truth. That word, and 
its meaning, seems to bring to my understanding the 
fullest expression of what God is. 

Love is also a good name for God; but we might 
as mortals, and with mortal understanding, misinter- 
pret God's qualities by using it. Because to our human 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 41 

sense Love might have some weakness in it. We 
could believe in a partial love; but never in a partial 
truth. 

Truth can never be but just — love might be — 
might cover up my sins at the expense of another's. 

Truth is absolute; love as used and understood 
among men is not. It may be weak and erring and 
still be called love. But truth is stern, unchangeable 
and just. 

December 22, 1908 



AN ANSWER TO A DANISH MINISTER'S 
ATTACK ON CHRISTIAN SCIENCE 

A Danish newspaper for the 22d of November, 
1908, was sent me recently. 

I was very sorry in that paper to find an article 
against Christian Science; especially as the article was 
very unfair, and showed the writer, Provst Elmquist 
(an old friend of mine), did not know anything at all 
about Christian Science — but nevertheless placed him- 
self in line with its opponents. 

In the first place, I think it is high time for Christian 
ministers to keep from judging; and to judge a religious 
sect as "hum-bug makers," without knowing the least 
about the sect and its work seems to me to be a viola- 
tion of that command: — "Thou shalt not bring false 
witness against thy neighbor.' ' 

The writer says: "More than one observer of this 
peculiar sect has said, * The whole thing is nothing but 
pure hum-bug.'" 

Elmquist himself says: "The cures which take 
place in Christian Science are simply brought about 
by hypnotism and magnetism." 



42 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

Christian Scientists know that we are warned 
in the Bible against those methods; and we do not 
act against the Bible command, but in accordance 
with it. 

But Christian Scientists may not wonder at this 
accusation — was not Jesus himself accused of effecting 
cures through Beelzebub? 

He was misjudged and crucified when two thousand 
years ago he was on this earth; and he would be mis- 
judged and punished to-day if he came to the present 
generation for the same reason as then: — partly by 
the accusers mistaking faithfulness to old views and 
rights; partly by the lack of fairness in judging this, — 
as they thought, — new teaching. It seemed new to 
them although as old as eternity. 

So Mrs. Eddy's teachings are supposed to be new; 
and those faithful to the old thought consider it their 
duty to persecute her and those who call themselves 
her followers. We can stand it, for what is our offense? 
We obey Christ's command not alone to preach but 
also to heal. 

Because Christian ministers so far have only 
obeyed the first command should Christian Scien- 
tists be called "hum-bug-makers" because they obey 
both? 

Reverend Elmquist is also deeply offended because 
Christian Scientists take money for their work. Did 
Jesus not say: "A laborer is worthy of his hire." 
Meant he that the one who did the preaching only was 
worthy of his hire, and not the one who did the healing? 
Meant he that this last one could do without house, — 
food, — clothing, better than the former? 

Neither does Elmquist approve of the many testi- 
monies of healing which appear in what he calls our 
"head organ," the Christian Science Sentinel. 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 43 

Do the Gospels not contain testimonies of healing? 
Would Jesus have spent so much time in healing if 
healing was without significance? 

What answer gave Jesus when John the Baptist 
sent word: — "Are you the one we expected, or shall 
we wait for another?" Jesus 's answer was : "Go and 
tell John what you hear and see: The blind see, and 
the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; 
the dead are raised and the Gospel is preached to the 
poor; and blessed are those who do not take offense 
at me." 

Could we imagine this answer to be made without 
purpose? No — we cannot doubt that this answer was 
sufficient; and neither can we doubt that John the 
Baptist took it as such. 

So do we in Christian Science feel assured that our 
faith in Christ is not in vain, when we by this faith 
also to-day see sickness and sin disappear. And we 
know we have a right to trust that death, — "the last 
enemy" — some day shall be conquered too; even if 
Elmquist doubts it. 

After Elmquist has finished his article about what 
he supposes Christian Science to be, he goes on saying: 

"This so-called Christian Science is a new religion. 
It came to existence in America in our time, and counts 
thousands — (he might well have said millions), of mem- 
bers there. It is now from there spreading to the 
European countries, and has also reached Denmark to 
bless our people." 

He knows not what true word he uses when he says 
" bless " although he uses it mockingly. It would indeed 
be a blessed day for Denmark if all its people had 
their eyes opened to the gross deception of material 
life. And if they would turn more toward the spiritual 
things, and use spirit alone as means of healing — (as 



44 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

do we Christian Scientists, — with Christ as our only- 
guide and patron), they would see sin conquered — 
sin with all its relentless followers: — sickness, poverty, 
war, wants of every kind, and finally the last enemy — 
death. 

November, 1908 

WORDS AND THEIR MEANING 

There is much unkind comment over Mrs. Eddy's 
use of words — people do not understand the wording 
in S. & H. and not understanding, they say the whole 
book is nothing but nonsense. 

Why so much commotion? Are there not used any 
amount of letters and signs to explain Chemistry and 
Algebra, which to the person not familiar with the 
expressions, are absolutely impossible to understand? 

In S. & H. Mrs. Eddy has been obliged to use common 
terms for an uncommon subject. She could not make 
new words — had she done so, I think she would have 
been still more ridiculed, but those terms are explained 
in the glossary in the same book; and anybody who 
cares to understand, can there find the explanation of 
her wording. 

Aug. 31, 1908 

THINKING 

I am thankful that our Leader has impressed upon 
us the necessity of right thinking. And to-day I wonder 
how there ever was a time when we believed we could 
reach Heaven, — Harmony, in our old way of careless 
thinking. 

We really believed we were doing the most any 
human being was expected to do if we had learned to 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 45 

keep our erroneous thoughts to ourselves. To guard 
our talk was considered great wisdom. 

If we had guarded our thoughts first there would 
have been no necessity to guard our speech — that 
would have been truer wisdom. 

There is an old saying: — " Thoughts are free of 
duty," and we believed it, judging from the way we 
carried over the borderline of what should be our sacred 
thought-land, all kinds of thoughts, good and bad, 
alike: thoughts of criticism, jealousy, hate, envy, pride, 
and an hundred others. 

But now, as Christian Scientists, we realize we 
have paid, and do pay, a fearfully high duty for such 
thoughts. They are paid for in remorse, sickness, 
sorrow, poverty, and death. 

We are too apt to lull ourselves to sleep, thinking 
there will be plenty of time to improve. And so there 
is — there is no scarcity of time. We have all eternity 
before us; but can we afford for our own sake, for our 
loved ones' sake, and for humanity's sake, to lengthen 
the days of suffering on this earth? We know as Chris- 
tian Scientists that your thinking and mine, according 
to its quality, is just so much in the scale either for 
good or for evil. 

May, 1908 

MICROBES 

Humanity is so anxiously looking for, and warring 
against microbes, in air, water, and food — those mi- 
crobes which can only destroy our bodies. 

Would we only be equal anxiously warring against 
the microbes which infest our minds and are already 
unduly magnified for us in daily talk and reading 
matter, — especially in the profound supply of news- 
papers, rampant with unsound news, — news of crimes 



46 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

of all descriptions, news of falsehoods about good 
people, and news which only tends to destroy our peace 
of mind, our purity of thought, and the innocence of 
our children. 

After all sin is the only microbe necessary to war 
against; but that is not the work of natural scientists, 
it is the work of every individual. 

1908. 

LUKE 

Some of our critics have advanced the idea that 
Luke went with Christ in the capacity of physician, 
and that it was he who did the healing. 

It is really too ridiculous an idea to pay any atten- 
tion to it. However, Luke must have been a wonderful 
physician indeed, to unfailingly heal multitudes, and 
I wonder why all doctors of the present date do not 
go back to the science of medicine as it was taught 
two thousand years ago, if they really believe Luke 
to be the healer and not Christ. 

February, 1909 

LOVE 

Humanity seems at all times to have known that 
Love is the power which will redeem fallen man — even 
in fairy tales this is expressed. I recall from childhood 
a favorite and oft read tale by Hans Christian Andersen : 

The devil has made a mirror through which all 
the world looks ridiculously comical and wicked: the 
straight becomes crooked; — the beautiful, ugly; — the 
good comical. In fact every thing looks the opposite 
of what it truly is, and the devil is very much pleased 
and amused, and he calls a number of help -mates to 
lift the mirror high up in the air, so they can all get 
as wide a view of the world as possible. And what 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 47 

they see is to them so comical that they have to hold 
their sides from laughter. The mirror is dropped, and 
falls to the earth, and breaks into millions of fragments. 
And all those pieces fly into the eyes and the hearts of 
people. Wherever such a piece lodges the person 
becomes at once unable to see things right. And if a 
piece enters the heart, the heart becomes numb and 
cold. 

Then the story goes on to tell about two little 
children who had been dear friends from babyhood. 
They are playing in a lovely little rose-garden. While 
playing there one day, the little boy suddenly com- 
menced to rub his eyes and said: "Something flew into 
my eyes, — and now I feel something hurting my heart! " 

It was fragments of the devil's broken mirror which 
has struck the little boy. And as his little friend wants 
to help him get the particle out of his eye, he pushes 
her away and says he doesn't like her any more — she 
is so ugly, — he does not want to have anything to do 
with her. And the roses he commences to tear from 
the bushes, saying they are worm eaten. 

Well, as the story goes on he grows farther and 
farther away from his little playmate; and grows more 
and more unlike himself; and in the fairy tale we at 
last find him in the castle of the Snow Queen, far up 
toward the North Pole. 

Little Gerda's life becomes a search for her little 
lost friend ; and after many experiences, both beautiful 
and frightful, she at last finds her friend in the Snow 
Queen's Ice castle, where he sits, blue and shivering 
from cold. She finds him playing with some broken 
pieces of ice, trying to form them into letters, — to 
spell a word he dimly remembers but cannot form. 
Through all the miserable experiences which at last 
brought him to the Castle of the Snow Queen, there 



48 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

remains in him a dim memory of something higher and 
more soul satisfying. It is Love. He tries to spell it 
out in the ice particles, but can never get it right. But 
now Gerda, his little friend, comes to his rescue; her 
love melts the ice around his heart — the spell is broken. 
He cries from joy, and the pieces of the ugly glass melt 
away. 

Gerda's love redeemed him. Humanity, and per- 
haps the story teller himself, have looked upon this 
power of Love as a fairy tale, — as something beautiful 
to dream about, — but not to be used in everyday life. 

But we ought to know better, for thousands have 
testified to the power Love has had to free them from 
sin and disease. Knowing this why are we so tardy to 
express and live Love? 

August 12, 1908 

H. C. ANDERSEN 

How often have I been amused over H. C. Ander- 
sen's wit and fun. For instance, when I came to the 
story about the Snow Queen: It tells how Kay, the 
boy who got some pieces of the devil's mirror in his 
heart, — and from the bad effect of them grows cold 
and hard, cunning and worldly; and how he at last, 
seemingly tired of his own worldliness, wants to pray 
to God; but could "remember nothing but his multi- 
plication tables." 

I did not think till now that this was anything but 
amusing. But is it really not something which takes 
place many a time among men? They live so long, 
far from what they know to be right, they become so 
engrossed in worldly matters and worldly gain, that 
when adversity meets them and they really would 
like to turn to God in prayer for help they have for- 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 49 

gotten how to pray. All their thoughts have been 
centred so long in multiplying material treasures that 
they do not now understand any more how to approach 
God. 

1908 

CONSISTENCY 

We must not think for one moment that by realiz- 
ing, for instance, one time or another during the day 
that God will protect us, by repeating "God is my 
strength and my salvation," that by this momentary 
sense of protection we really are protected; if we not 
continually, during every hour of the day, live in a 
mental atmosphere corresponding to that trust we 
put in God at the moment of prayer. 

September 26, 1908 

LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE 

"Like attracts like." How important then, to be 
always right yourself — so you constantly will only 
attract what is right and good ; but how little heed have 
we paid to the world of thought. 

We believed we could think whatever we pleased; it 
was nobody's business, and what harm could it bring 
upon anybody? 

Oh yes, it harmed not alone ourselves, but it harmed 
many others because by thinking wrong we were both 
nursing that which, leaving our thoughts, found lodg- 
ment in some weak fellow being's mind; and attracted to 
ourselves some other person's wrong thoughts. 

The harm of wrong thinking is working both ways — 
harming both ourselves and others; we cannot think any 
thought which has not its effect, for either good or evil. 



50 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

With good thoughts we benefit the world, with bad 
thoughts we only swell the already overflowing streams 
of evil. 

December, 1909. 

MRS. EDDY'S REPLY 

It was last summer a year ago when our Leader, Mrs. 
Eddy, had again been heartlessly criticised, and some 
friend wanted to proffer to her their sympathy , that she 
replied: "Those things will cease to be, when they have 
ceased to bless. " 

These were the greatest words she ever spoke. She, 
whose whole life was devoted to work for the good of 
humanity, who did it with a love as great as any Chris- 
tian could ever show; she, who never was known to 
answer back in anger any one who insulted her; she, 
whose work was done unceasingly, and in silence and in 
patience, — that she should admit that she still needed 
discipline ! 

What about us? In our foolishness we often think 
we have outgrown the necessity for trials; we think we 
are often unduly and unjustly criticised, — that we could 
do without a "thorn in the nest" to spur us upward. 

Let us keep our Leader's words before our minds, 
both as a reproach and as a comfort. Let us in all kinds 
of trials, whether it be unjust criticism, sorrow, or sick- 
ness, know that those words hold good also for us : 
"Those things will cease to be, when they have ceased 
to bless." 

December 7, 1909 

DARK FACES 

A lady once told me that she had been in a street-car 
with one of her grandchildren who never had seen a col- 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 51 

ored person before. Looking at such one sitting in the 
other end of the car, the child asked: "Grandma, what 
is that over there?" 

"It is a colored man, " she answered. 

"Oh he is so dark I can not see him!" the child 
exclaimed. 

I can fancy the child has been looking and looking 
into that face, trying to penetrate the dark mask to 
find the real man. — 

I drew a lesson from that — and wonder if the truth 
about ourselves — as God's image is not likewise some- 
what hidden behind a mask more or less darkened by 
error. 

We look and look into one and another's face to dis- 
cern what is really in that face. 

Can we always find out by looking? Is the mask 
not often too heavy to look through? 

We may flatter ourselves that our consciences are 
not as dark as others: being thankful we are not mur- 
derers, thief s, drunkards; but in the sight of God it may 
well be that selfishness is a worse sin than drunken- 
ness, jealousy worse than theft, and slander worse 
than murder. 

Slander at least is more far-reaching and cruel in its 
effects; and may hide our true countenance behind a 
darker-hued mask than that of any Negro. 

But I am thankful to our Leader, who has taught us 
that behind the mask, be it ever so dark, God's true 
image must and will some day be revealed. 

1909 

A STRANGE MOVEMENT 

The following was found in a Danish paper this sum- 
mer, 1909: 

"A strange movement, the Emmanuel Movement, 



52 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

has been set on foot in Boston by an Episcopal minister, 
Dr. Worcester, in the Emmanuel Church there. Notic- 
ing the healing brought about by the members of the so- 
called Christian Science Church, Dr. Worcester has com- 
menced treatment of nervous diseases by spiritual 
means; but all on a foundation of faith, and in a sound 
Christian way . " 

Well, those words: "but on a foundation of faith, 
and in a sound Christian way, " seem to indicate that 
Christian Science healing is not sound, nor done through 
faith in Christ. 

Linking this statement to Provst Elmquist's sharp 
and blind attack on Christian Science, as it appeared 
not long ago in the same paper, shows that some Dan- 
ish people do not look at those movements — the Chris- 
tian Science and the Emmanuel Movement, — in a fair 
or even reasonable way. 

When we look at both, we see surely some difference 
in their methods ; but why the Christian Science move- 
ment, which appears to be the incentive of the Emman- 
uel Movement, should be unfairly criticised, and the 
Emmanuel Movement praised — why the first is called 
humbug, and the last — "sound and Christian, " is more 
than I can understand. 

In both Movements cures are effected. 

The Emmanuel Church admits it has derived its 
incentive from Christian Science; but "has improved 
upon its methods. " In what way? 

Dr. Worcester admits himself that his healing is 
brought about by suggestion, hypnotism, medicine, 
faith, and prayer, combined; and that only nervous 
patients are reached, and only nervous patients taken, 
such as come with a Medical Doctor's diagnosis. 

This is certainly limited, and can we imagine God 
the healer as limited? 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 53 

We Christian Scientists at least believe in God's all- 
power. 

Does Dr. Worcester, as a Minister of the Gospel, 
believe the statements in the Scriptures concerning 
God? And does he think the attributes given to God 
true and fitting? 

What are those names and attributes? — "God," 
"Father," "Creator," "Lord," "Friend," "my Help," 
and "my Salvation," "my Strength," "mv Rock," 
"my Defense," "my Shield," "my Buckler," "my 
Refuge," "my Fortress," and many others. He is 
claimed to be: "Life, Truth, and Love." He is "all 
just," "all wise," "all good," "all knowing," "all pres- 
ent," and "almighty." 

Should the healing in Christian Science, brought 
about by trusting in this Being, be called "humbug?" 
and "fraud?" 

Can we imagine such a God being incapable of heal- 
ing those children who trust Him? That it should be 
necessary to call in the Medical Doctor with his medi- 
cines or to resort to hypnotism, suggestion, etc.; and 
then, after all, only be able to secure help and restora- 
tion for the nervously afflicted? Is God the Father of 
only the nervous? 

Can this healing of the Emmanuel Movement, 
brought about by the mixture of medicine, hypnotism, 
suggestion, and prayer, be earnestly said to have advan- 
tages over Christian Science methods; can it in earnest 
be said to rest upon a sound Christian basis? And be an 
improvement upon Christian Science? 

In Christian Science there is not used any material 
means or human will-power, nor suggestions. Christ is 
our example ; He did not use material means, neither did 
he teach his disciples to use any, and He did not only 
heal the nervously afflicted, nor those who came with 



54 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

the Medical Doctors' diagnoses. Nevertheless when 
following his example we are judged — "unsound, pray- 
erless, and un-Christian. " 

But after all, what does it matter what our oppo- 
nents think and say? What would it matter if people 
disagreed about the substance of the sun? Its sub- 
stance will remain the same. 

So with Christian Science, — its substance is Christ, 
Love and Truth and will remain so, regardless of any 
human opinion to the contrary. 

August, 1909 

FREE AND FREELY 

When Christian Scientists take pay for their work, 
our opponents, who are often medical doctors and min- 
isters of the gospel, are very provoked; and will quote 
from Matthew x, 8 — ". . . freely ye have 
received, freely give." Then they think, "That is 
something which cannot be gainsaid. " 

But I will say: "Are those two words, 'free and 
freely' not different in their meaning?" 

Can we not say about the minister of the gospel that 
he gives freely of his thoughts; and what he considers 
the truth about the Scriptures? Of what use would he 
be as a preacher of the gospel if he did nor freely express 
himself about the truth? But does he give his sermon 
free of charge ? No. He has his salary. 

The same with a medical doctor, he gives the world 
freely from all his knowledge of medicine and hygiene. 
What would be the use of his knowledge if he did not 
use it freely in practice? But does he do it free of 
charge? No — he takes his pay; and nobody thinks that 
is wrong; he must have something to keep up life. 

And Christian Scientists do exactly the same. Do 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 55 

the minister and the doctor think that the Christian 
Scientist can live without food, drink, clothes, house, 
etc. ? 

A Christian Science practitioner devotes more time 
to the healing work than a medical doctor, and vastly 
more than a minister of the gospel, and surely is worthy 
of his hire. " 



January 5, 1909 



TRANSMISSION 



Music can be transmitted through mechanical medi- 
ums to any number of listeners, in any part of the world, 
and is by those listeners heard more or less perfectly, — 
according to the f aultlessness of those mediums through 
which it is transmitted, — so I liken our Source, — God, 
the perfect All — harmonious, — to be transmitted, made 
manifest, reflected, or whatever you call it, through us, 
through human individuals; but the manifestation is 
more or less perfect, according to the pureness of the 
individuals. 

Some may be pure enough to give a comparatively 
beautiful reflection ; others, who are not so pure, give a 
less true reflection; and some give an absolutely dis- 
torted reflection of the true God. 

Denver, Col., February 14, 1910 

PERVERTED SENSE 

If sin, as some people think, is essential and necessary 
for offsetting and appreciating the good, I will ask if a 
rotten spot on an apple makes the rest of it taste better, 
makes the apple more worth eating? Would the gen- 
eral beauty of a human being be more appreciated, if 
that special person had a cancer somewhere hidden. — 
So with communities, should it be necessary to have 



56 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

plague spots all over it, to appreciate the good in it? 
And if so, are those same people, who believe in the 
necessity of sin and evil, willing to be those unfortunate 
ones who, by their sins, badness and ill conduct, are off- 
setting the good? No ! every one is more than willing to 
have those qualities manifested in others rather than 
in themselves. 

1910 

SIN THE CAUSE OF SICKNESS 

When we as Christian Scientists insist that sickness 
and poverty and sorrow are the results of sin, our 
opponents call us foolish. 

"What sin has a little child committed, for instance, 
that should make it sick?" they argue. 

The child has committed no sin whatever! But, in 
the first place, have we not the Scriptures which say — 
"The sins of the fathers, etc." And from our own 
observation, do we not see that a good seed, fallen in a 
field thick with mildew and rust will not thrive, but 
will also gather mildew and rust? 

So it is, the seed might itself be good, but the condi- 
tion of the field in which it falls is not. And whatever 
we plant in that field is more or less under its bane. 

As with children, so with us; it is not always sins 
committed by us directly from which we suffer, but 
from the universally tainted atmosphere, for which 
humanity itself is responsible, and in which the inno- 
cent with the guilty must live and suffer. 

April, 1910 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 57 

ANSWER TO ONE WHO CALLED IT PREPOSTEROUS OF 
CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS TO SAY THEY CAN HEAL 
THE SICK AND SINNING 

First of all the Christian Scientists do not claim, 
that they personally perform the healing. — Second can 
anybody, any human being, understand the mysteries 
of Life — even as found in the tiniest grain? Do we 
from that reason leave it unsown? Is it preposterous 
of the Farmer to sow the seed and expect it to sprout? 
No; he sows it and finds it most natural that it grows. 
He has seen it repeated so unfailingly, that he would 
wonder more if it did not grow; if he has performed 
his work of preparing the soil systematically and accord- 
ing to law. So the Christian Scientist by following a 
line of Thought of Truth and Good, has experienced 
that those thoughts create conditions in the human 
mind, before which sin and sickness disappear in the 
one who honestly looks for healing of mind or body. 
But to explain the mysteries of healing by the power of 
Truth, would be as impossible as for the farmer to 
explain the mysteries of growth in his grain. 

June 30, 1910 

ATMOSPHERE 

As the rays of the sun only can send warmth, 
light and life to our earth, on account of the atmosphere 
which surrounds it — as the earth would be cold, and 
dark and lifeless without this atmosphere; so the 
human heart is often insensible to the influences of 
truth and light, because it lacks the atmosphere through 
which truth and light become lifegiving. What creates 
this atmosphere? I am sorry to say; too often want, 
suffering, sorrow and tears. 
New Year's Day, 1910 



58 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

MRS. MARY BAKER EDDY 

Our critics ridicule Christian Scientists at all times; 
but especially if any one calls Christian Science a 
"new religion." 

Well, — why do we call America a new world? Was 
it because it sprang into existence when Columbus 
discovered it? Had it not existed as long as the rest 
of the earth? So with Christian Science. All science 
has existed through all eternity; but it has not always 
been explained, or it has been explained and the 
explanation lost or misunderstood. 

Why fall upon and try to tear to pieces Mrs. Eddy, 
the one, — in our time, — faithful servant of God who, 
seeking for the healing power or healing science, found 
it and gave it to us? 

We should think from the way she is persecuted 
that she had spent her time in looking for some vile 
poison, and having found it, scattered it broadcast 
with evil intent. 
January, 1908 

LOVE FOR GOD 

How can people be expected to love God who, to 
us, as a person, is absolutely incomprehensible? 

But call God "Good," (All-Good, The Good), as 
we do in Christian Science, and we see how possible 
it is to love Him, and wish to serve Him alone. 

Even if we in our weakness do not do it, we can at 
least see that the command to humanity: "Thou shalt 
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all 
thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy 
strength," — is not unreasonable. 
October 10, 1910 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 59 

FOCUS 

Mrs. Eddy has perhaps never said a word, nor 
made a statement of truth, which has not already been 
stated before ; in fact we are continually, in our reading 
of good books, listening to lectures, sermons, etc.; 
striking wonderful sayings — good and to the point — 
well worth remembering; and many we do remember 
and are benefitted by; but being ever so good and in 
accordance with truth, they have been too scattered 
to carry strength enough to be an ever present uplift. 
As the rays of the sun only have power to give light 
and heat and life to our earth, because the rays are 
gathered and focused through the atmosphere; so 
truths must be gathered and concentrated through an 
atmosphere before they become a lifegiving power. 
Our Leader, in contrast to humanity at large, has been 
the one watchful and faithful enough at all times to 
listen to the voice within; who by her constancy to 
principle and love for truth has created round her 
soul an atmosphere, calm enough and pure enough to 
receive the scattered truths, gather them and give 
them out freely for the benefit of humanity. 

June, 1910 

Would there be any who were not healed of 
their diseases, if praying God to heal them were 
sufficient? 

No. Everyone would be healed, for I am sure 
everyone has sent forth fervent prayer for healing 
either for themselves or others. 

But praying is not enough. We all should realize 
there is a condition; and do we not name that condition 
each time we repeat the Lord's Prayer? 

"Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." 



60 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

But have we really and truly forgiven all our 
debtors? If not, why expect answer to our prayers? 

1910 

We can never speak of: Evil, death, hate, disease, 
lies, jealousy, poverty, darkness, weakness, insanity, 
selfishness, greed, cowardice, etc., as something which 
can be lost, — those are negatives! and not worth 
having anything to do with. 

But we can say we have lost: Life, love, truth, 
health, strength, sanity, courage, substance, light, etc., 
because those are positives; and all worth possessing. 
In Christian Science we call the negatives unreal — 
and the positives real. 

1911 

HATE AND LOVE 

Do not the 25 to 27 verses from the 14th Chapter of 
Luke show clearly enough, that the word "hate" as used 
there, can not have the same meaning as we usually con- 
nect with hate? Also the word "love" as used many 
places in the Bible can to my understanding only mean 
"charity." It would be possible to have charity for all, 
even for our enemies ; but love, as we use the word in con- 
nection with our feelings for parents, children, brothers 
and sisters, we can not possibly have for everyone. 

1910 

THE UNKNOWN PURPOSE 

Often the thought comes to me, as to many others, 
I suppose: Why am I here? Why this monotonous 
rotation of days, with their numerous small duties? 
Do I serve any purpose? Is my life even as useful as a 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 61 

laborers, who "digs in the ditch, to be able to earn 
money enough to buy food enough to get strength 
enough to dig in the ditch." 

Well, then I look at the clock on my mantle. If 
that could express itself, it would possibly think 
that existence was very monotonous and without a 
purpose: going on, striking the hours from one to 
twelve, over and over, from year to year. Can I do 
without that clock? No! 

Perhaps then also I am serving a purpose in life. 
I may be an indispensable something, however small. 
And the only thing for me to do is to strike true under 
all circumstances. 

April 6, 1911 



GOD'S NAME IN VAIN 

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord Thy 
God in vain." 

I used to think this Commandment meant that 
people should not be profane nor use God's name 
carelessly; but now I feel that it means we shall not 
call ourselves "Christians" without living up to all 
this name implies. 

February 8, 1912 



RESPONSIBLE 

We who take the name of "Christian Scientists," 
and do not live up to the demands of Christian Science, 
are perhaps doing the cause of Christian Science more 
harm than its opponents ever will do. 

February 8, 1912 



62 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

OBEDIENCE 

In music as in all other things Obedience is the 
one thing needed and necessary if we will gain perfec- 
tion, gain harmony. It impressed itself upon me, as 
I sat last night down at St. Augustine, Florida, listening 
to an orchestra. I thought what would the orchestra 
amount to if every one of the players were not absolutely 
obedient to the leader. 

The leader takes infinite pains in instructing the 
players — even this evening, between the parts, I heard 
him give advice and instruction, and every one in the 
band had his eye and ear on the leader, intent on doing 
as he told them. And the result was perfect harmony. 

Now I am sure both leader and musicians found it 
worth their while to do all in their power to bring 
perfect harmony into the music. 

But those same men leaving their instruments, go out 
in the world and pursue health, happiness, and pleasure 
for soul and body, and wonder why they often find 
neither real pleasure nor real happiness nor real health. 

How can they think to find what they seek, while 
they will permit many wrong thoughts, feelings and 
acts, to take possession of them; while they do not 
give a thousandth part of that care to their thoughts 
and lives, that they give to their music; while they do 
not listen half as intently to the voice from within, as 
they listen to the instruction of their musical leader; 
while they do not obey the simplest laws of God; while 
they do not think it worth while even to try to be 
obedient to what they know God demands from them. 

Will we never understand that there is as well a 
law for our thought-life as for everything else in this 
material world. 

Feb. 1, 1912 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 63 

ETERNAL GOD 

Those orthodox persons who admit God to be 
infinite, eternal; and at the same time believe the 
human race to be God's only offspring; believe the 
human race, and the universe, are only dating back 
5000 years; I wonder what those same people think 
God has been doing before the creation of the universe. 
Has He been living all alone in a vacuum? 
March 5, 1914 

HOPEFUL 

We are awakening! and the world will soon attain 
loftier ideals; they are already made manifest in: 

1. Single tax: The most ideal form of government. 

2. The aeroplane and wireless : The most ideal and 
loftiest attainment in material science. 

3. Christian Science : The most ideal form of religion. 

On board Hellig Olave. 
November, 1913 

When I look at the chart of the Marconi-system 
here on the steamer, Hellig Olave, and see the number- 
less lines crossing and recrossing space; and know each 
line is a way for thought, sent from somewhere to some- 
where; and realize that all those lines on the map are 
only an infinitesimal number of thought-lines forever 
crossing and recrossing space — then I thought what an 
eternal crossfire of thoughts we live and move in. Are 
we outside their influence? I do not think so. I think we 
are influenced more than we dream of by others' thoughts 
— at least those thoughts we are attuned to. Therefore 
to have our minds tuned right is one of our greatest 
duties. And nobody knows what each of us could ac- 
complish if our minds were only attuned to the good. 

Hellig Olave. Nov., 1913 



64 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

RELENTLESS 

God, who is Love, could not be relentless we should 
think. 

But, as there is no place in Heaven where the 
slightest shortcoming could have room, — and as we 
all want heaven — God (Good) must in correcting our 
mistakes seem relentless. 

The principle of mathematics which is all perfect 
is also relentless in so far that the slightest mistake 
makes the whole problem wrong. Would we resent to 
have it corrected? 



June 17, 1914 



COMPOSED 



I have heard people remark: "Why do Christian 
Scientists as a rule look more composed than most 
other people?" 

I should say it is because we have been taught that 
God is the unchangeable principle of Life, Love and 
Truth; so we have nothing to fear — we know that 
working with that principle we must win. 

A builder of the most wonderful and difficult 
structure can feel composed, because he works with 
the principle of figures; and knows from the beginning 
that he will succeed; every stone is laid in accordance 
with the law of mathematics. 

Now as individuals we may not all know enough 
of mathematics to build wonderful structures, nor 
have we reached that point of understanding of 
Christian Science always to keep well, free and prosper- 
ous. But we look at those others ahead of us ; and take 
courage and comfort; and are composed. 

1915 



THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 65 

CHANGED IDEA 

With our changed ideas of God as a personal 
Father, somebody thinks that we as Christian Scien- 
tists are left very much alone in our troubles and 
sorrows; and wonder where we turn for comfort and 
consolation. Our answer must be, that by thinking, 
living and acting in harmony with the principle we 
name "God," we have all the combined forces of good 
with us — and we then live within a stronghold where 
no evil will have power over us. 

Sept. 28, 1915 

In Christian Science we do not believe in unmerited 
forgiveness ; but in trying to live so that no forgiveness 
is necessary; for only so can we reflect all good, reflect 
our creator's qualities and be "perfect as He is perfect, " 
That is the final! — it may be far off yet; but it is to 
be reached sometime and somewhere or it would never 
have been asked of us. 

1915 

"I SHALL BE SATISFIED WHEN I AWAKE IN 
THY LIKENESS." 

It is the way in this life, that nothing really satisfies, 
there is an ever recurring hunger. Sometimes we call 
this hunger normal, but other times abnormal, as in the 
drunkard, the sensualist and others. There is to-day an 
abnormal appetite for being entertained — and people 
flock to moving-picture-shows — to see what? to see 
something which will satisfy? 

Oh no — The gruesome, as most often is thrown on 
the screen, can not possibly satisfy; but it gratifies, for 
the time being, their abnormal mental palates; and the 



66 THOUGHTS AS THEY HAVE COME TO ME 

desire for seeing more and more of the gruesome, grows 
upon them as a disease. 

There is also forever a desire for time to pass, and 
pass quickly, as thought we that to-morrow would bring 
something more worth the while. 

Our babies we love and adore; and perhaps no other 
joy can be compared to holding the baby in our arms — 
but nevertheless, when it is new born, we long for the 
day when it will smile — when smiling, we wish it soon 
could sit up — then talk and then walk by our hand; but 
soon we wish it would walk alone without holding onto 
our hand, so that hand could have time to do something 
else. Then we soon wish it would be old enough to 
go to kindergarten — then to school — in fact grow up — 
and when grown up we regret it is not a baby any more. 

Does the beauty of nature satisfy? No; the more 
wonderful and glorious, the more it seems to create a 
longing for something — we do not know what. And so 
forever — a never satisfied hunger. — Can this condition 
be something God has planned for his creation? Has he 
meant this mortal existence to be only a great delusion? 
Impossible ! The wrong must be with ourselves ; we are 
blind and deaf to the realities of being, we only see and 
hear the flashes and clashes from without, and forget to 
give heed to the" voice within," the voice which bids us 
to wake up ! — Not before we wake up, and see God as he 
is, will we know the real meaning of life; not before we 
wake up in his likeness shall we, or can we, be satisfied. 
Feb. 2, 1916 E. V. Krebs 



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